Shining Rock is one of the most unique summits in the North Carolina mountains. Located in the Great Balsam Range between Waynesville and Brevard, the peak derives its uniqueness not from sweeping views or precipitous cliffs but rather from the giant outcrop of snowy white quartz located just below its summit. Although thickly covered in a dense canopy of mixed fir and hardwoods, these 'shining' rocks can be seen clearly from great distances away. The summit gathers a decent number of visitors over the course of a year but not nearly so many as nearby peaks just to the south. The easiest and perhaps quickest route to its summit is the route I took this day, along the Art Loeb Trail from the Black Balsam Knob Trailhead. The 4-mile hike out to Shining Rock has got to be on the short list of most spectacular hikes in the Southern Appalachians as it crosses no less than 3 miles of open bald country and summits (including Shining Rock) four peaks over 6,000 feet.

I had been anxious to re-visit Shining Rock, the last time I hiked out to it was way back in 2005! Since then, I had embarrassingly realized that I had not actually tagged the summit on that hike and so wouldn't be able to claim it on my list of Southern 6'ers without another trip up. The colors were starting to show themselves above 5,000' and the day promised to be crisp and at least partially clear. I figured now was as good a time as any...I could wait no longer...

After the first brief climb views open up of the high country to the south and west. Here two other Southern 6'ers come into view...Chestnut Bald (6,040') to the near left and Mt. Hardy (6,110') to the far right... (6,030')

Making my way over to the north side of Black Balsam's broad summit the rest of my journey for the day came into view...Tennent Mountain (6,040') lies in a cloud shadow to the right with Grassy Cove Top (6,040') and Shining Rock (6,040') beyond... (6,200')

It's not hard to see why this area has become so popular, the only other area in the southern mountains that has a comparable amount of open terrain is the Roan Highlands a couple hours north... (6,000')

Descending the north side of Black Balsam, the Art Loeb seems like more of a trench as erosion has worn the trail a good two feet into the ground and laurel thickets press in from both sides... (5,950')

Nearing the top of Tennent Mountain I could once again see ahead along the ridge where I'd be headed. You can just make out the trail below as it winds its way towards Grassy Cove Top and the white quartz outcrops of Shining Rock were starting to reveal themselves a bit more clearly... (6,000')

Richland Balsam (6,410'), a dominant peak from just about any viewpoint on this hike, is the big kahuna of the Great Balsam Range...oddly, it may seem to some, despite being 200-400' higher than any peak on the Shining Rock ridge it's covered in a thick mantle of trees and so has few views and quite a few less visitors... (6,040')

Ivestor Gap is one of the two major trail junctions along this section of the Art Loeb (the other being ahead at Shining Rock Gap). The Art Loeb Trail shoots right through it while the Ivestor Gap, Greasy Cove, and Graveyard Ridge Trails join it from every side... (5,690')